We do a lot of prototyping work, I need a source for cheap gears. Most
of the things we do could be done with one standard size, 32 pitch seems
to be a good compromise. Where I'd like to get to is a plastic bin with
a nice selection of small (8 tooth and up) spur gears to fairly large
(64 or 72 tooth). Bore sizes appropriate (1/8' to 1/4") I'm not hung up
on either the 32 pitch or English sizes.

Looking at page 1012 in www.mcmaster.com they have suitable plastic
gears for the $2.50 to $7.00 range, this is just more money than I want
to spend. Page 1014 has 12" long sections of steel gear stock in 12
tooth to 40 tooth. I suppose this would work, would prefer brass stock
for ease of machining.

I'd really like to be able to get to a 32 pitch 8 tooth spur gear/64
tooth driven gear combination for the $2 to $3 range.

Suggestions?

On 2007-12-23, RoyJ wrote:
We do a lot of prototyping work, I need a source for cheap gears. Most
of the things we do could be done with one standard size, 32 pitch seems
to be a good compromise. Where I'd like to get to is a plastic bin with
a nice selection of small (8 tooth and up) spur gears to fairly large
(64 or 72 tooth). Bore sizes appropriate (1/8' to 1/4") I'm not hung up
on either the 32 pitch or English sizes.

Hmm ... look at a company called PIC. Some twenty years ago, I
got (at work) a couple of breadboard gear sets -- 1/4" and 1/8" shaft,
and their catalog.

They provide a mix of stainless steel and aluminum gears --
which you should use in a mix -- never aluminum on aluminum or stainless
on stainless, or you will get galling.

But -- they are also available hubless, with a series of hubs of
different styles -- setscrew and pin, collet clamp, and various other
ones -- including ones designed to be slip clutches. A slotted cast
iron plate and a bunch of hanger castings, with a mix of ball and
sintered bronze bearings. Even weird things like Geneva gear
components.

Lovely things to prototype with -- but it is so tempting to
include parts from the kit in the prototype -- with the problem that it
takes forever to get a purchase order through the government for
replacements. It is a little easier to buy the parts for the project
instead, so keep the prototype kit parts with the kit. :-)

Aha -- they are still around:

http://www.pic-design.com/

Here is the 1/4" prototyping kit:

http://www.pic-design.com/picsmartca...C%20R&html=n/a

I can't seem to find the 1/8" shaft kit. You may have to ask
them.

Looking at page 1012 in www.mcmaster.com they have suitable plastic
gears for the $2.50 to $7.00 range, this is just more money than I want
to spend. Page 1014 has 12" long sections of steel gear stock in 12
tooth to 40 tooth. I suppose this would work, would prefer brass stock
for ease of machining.

I'd really like to be able to get to a 32 pitch 8 tooth spur gear/64
tooth driven gear combination for the $2 to $3 range.

Hmm ... Not sure about getting an 8 tooth gear in the kits --
too small an OD, I think, at 32 pitch. It would have to have a hub
bigger than the gear itself to fit onto either 1/4" or 1/8" shafts. :-)

And, from what I remember about PIC's prices -- ou aren't going
to get any two gears from them for that little. They were quality gear
makers, not cheap ones. But it won't hurt to call them and ask -- as
long as you are sitting down when you hear the prices. :-)

Good Luck,
DoN.

--
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

On 23 Dec 2007 05:53:33 GMT, "DoN. Nichols"
wrote:

SNIP

Hmm ... look at a company called PIC. Some twenty years ago, I
got (at work) a couple of breadboard gear sets -- 1/4" and 1/8" shaft,
and their catalog.
SNIP

Aha -- they are still around:

http://www.pic-design.com/

Here is the 1/4" prototyping kit:

http://www.pic-design.com/picsmartca...C%20R&html=n/a

SNIP

Good Luck,
DoN.


Hey DoN.

WOW !!!! What a great site. The "Tech" section has lots of good
info, laid out about like most of us need it. Excellent.

The one that shows gear train error was quite a surprise to me.
Nothing to do with ratio or what gear is available, but just the
"error(s)" that are in, or rather cumulative in, a gear-train. I know
it is common to leave a little space between each on my South Bend to
reduce the running noise, but this shows the error that develops.

Glad your memory is so good.

Take care. Season's Best.

Brian Lawson,
Bothwell, Ontario.

Nice selection, prices are brutal

DoN. Nichols wrote:
On 2007-12-23, RoyJ wrote:
We do a lot of prototyping work, I need a source for cheap gears. Most
of the things we do could be done with one standard size, 32 pitch seems
to be a good compromise. Where I'd like to get to is a plastic bin with
a nice selection of small (8 tooth and up) spur gears to fairly large
(64 or 72 tooth). Bore sizes appropriate (1/8' to 1/4") I'm not hung up
on either the 32 pitch or English sizes.

Hmm ... look at a company called PIC. Some twenty years ago, I
got (at work) a couple of breadboard gear sets -- 1/4" and 1/8" shaft,
and their catalog.

They provide a mix of stainless steel and aluminum gears --
which you should use in a mix -- never aluminum on aluminum or stainless
on stainless, or you will get galling.

But -- they are also available hubless, with a series of hubs of
different styles -- setscrew and pin, collet clamp, and various other
ones -- including ones designed to be slip clutches. A slotted cast
iron plate and a bunch of hanger castings, with a mix of ball and
sintered bronze bearings. Even weird things like Geneva gear
components.

Lovely things to prototype with -- but it is so tempting to
include parts from the kit in the prototype -- with the problem that it
takes forever to get a purchase order through the government for
replacements. It is a little easier to buy the parts for the project
instead, so keep the prototype kit parts with the kit. :-)

Aha -- they are still around:

http://www.pic-design.com/

Here is the 1/4" prototyping kit:

http://www.pic-design.com/picsmartca...C%20R&html=n/a

I can't seem to find the 1/8" shaft kit. You may have to ask
them.

Looking at page 1012 in www.mcmaster.com they have suitable plastic
gears for the $2.50 to $7.00 range, this is just more money than I want
to spend. Page 1014 has 12" long sections of steel gear stock in 12
tooth to 40 tooth. I suppose this would work, would prefer brass stock
for ease of machining.

I'd really like to be able to get to a 32 pitch 8 tooth spur gear/64
tooth driven gear combination for the $2 to $3 range.

Hmm ... Not sure about getting an 8 tooth gear in the kits --
too small an OD, I think, at 32 pitch. It would have to have a hub
bigger than the gear itself to fit onto either 1/4" or 1/8" shafts. :-)

And, from what I remember about PIC's prices -- ou aren't going
to get any two gears from them for that little. They were quality gear
makers, not cheap ones. But it won't hurt to call them and ask -- as
long as you are sitting down when you hear the prices. :-)

Good Luck,
DoN.

On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:52:27 -0600, RoyJ
wrote:

We do a lot of prototyping work, I need a source for cheap gears. Most
of the things we do could be done with one standard size, 32 pitch seems
to be a good compromise. Where I'd like to get to is a plastic bin with
a nice selection of small (8 tooth and up) spur gears to fairly large
(64 or 72 tooth). Bore sizes appropriate (1/8' to 1/4") I'm not hung up
on either the 32 pitch or English sizes.

Looking at page 1012 in www.mcmaster.com they have suitable plastic
gears for the $2.50 to $7.00 range, this is just more money than I want
to spend. Page 1014 has 12" long sections of steel gear stock in 12
tooth to 40 tooth. I suppose this would work, would prefer brass stock
for ease of machining.

I'd really like to be able to get to a 32 pitch 8 tooth spur gear/64
tooth driven gear combination for the $2 to $3 range.

Suggestions?


Try here. http://www.sdp-si.com/eStore/CoverPg...htm?wcw=google

--Andy Asberry--
------Texas-----

I've had good luck on some small gears from BOSTON GEAR.

http://bostongear.com/products/open/sg.html#

Click on "specifications".

Flash




"Andy Asberry" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:52:27 -0600, RoyJ
wrote:

We do a lot of prototyping work, I need a source for cheap gears. Most
of the things we do could be done with one standard size, 32 pitch seems
to be a good compromise. Where I'd like to get to is a plastic bin with
a nice selection of small (8 tooth and up) spur gears to fairly large
(64 or 72 tooth). Bore sizes appropriate (1/8' to 1/4") I'm not hung up
on either the 32 pitch or English sizes.

Looking at page 1012 in www.mcmaster.com they have suitable plastic
gears for the $2.50 to $7.00 range, this is just more money than I want
to spend. Page 1014 has 12" long sections of steel gear stock in 12
tooth to 40 tooth. I suppose this would work, would prefer brass stock
for ease of machining.

I'd really like to be able to get to a 32 pitch 8 tooth spur gear/64
tooth driven gear combination for the $2 to $3 range.

Suggestions?


Try here. http://www.sdp-si.com/eStore/CoverPg...htm?wcw=google

--Andy Asberry--
------Texas-----